Soccer-Injured Neymar not travelling with Brazil squad for Haiti match


Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Brazil Training - Columbia Park Training Facility, Morristown, New Jersey, U.S. - June 17, 2026 Brazil's Neymar Jr. during training IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Caean Couto

MIAMI, ⁠June 18 (Reuters) - Brazil forward Neymar will not travel ⁠with the squad for their second World Cup ‌group game against Haiti in Philadelphia on Friday as he continues to recover from a calf injury, the Brazilian football association ​said.

"He will remain in New Jersey ⁠to make the most ⁠of the final stage of his recovery, making use ⁠of the ‌excellent facilities at The Ridge hotel and the Columbia Park training centre," they said ⁠in a statement on Thursday.

The 34-year-old was ​seen doing drills ‌with the squad after warming up separately in ⁠boots and ​with the ball in a training session on Wednesday.

He had been limited to indoor work at the team's ⁠training centre with physiotherapists and fitness ​coaches, with Brazil being cautious about his return to action.

Neymar injured his right calf during Santos' 3-0 defeat by ⁠Coritiba last month, the latest in a long run of injuries and physical setbacks for the former Barcelona and Paris St Germain forward, who has not ​played for Brazil in almost three ⁠years.

Brazil have one point after opening their World Cup ​campaign with a draw against ‌Morocco while Haiti are bottom of ​the group after losing to Scotland.

(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Miami; Editing by Toby Chopra)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Others Also Read